Abstract: An improvement in a cable tie installation tool. The tool includes a tool member for fastening a cable tie about a bundle of wires or the like, conveyor means connected to the tool member, and propulsion means for propelling a cable tie through the conveyor means to the tool member. The tool member includes a positioning means for placing the tie about the bundle, a tube receiving the cable tie from the conveyor means and transmitting the tie toward the positioning means, and stop means engagable with the head of the tie for limiting movement of the head toward the positioning means. The improvement comprises braking means for decelerating the tie as it passes through the tube and before the tie head reaches the stop means whereby the likelihood of damage to the tie head upon engagement with the stop means is reduced and the service life of the stop means is extended.

Abstract: A self-locking cable tie for forming a plurality of elongate objects into a bundle. The cable tie comprises an elongate strap including a pair of spaced longitudinally extending side rails joined by a plurality of spaced transverse rungs; and a head extending from adjacent one end of the strap and including a strap entry face, a strap exit face and a strap-receiving aperture extending between the faces. The cable tie further comprises a locking dog including a flexible neck pivotally joining the dog to the head. The dog is formed of a material having greater strength in compressive loading than in shear loading per unit cross-sectional area. Furthermore, the dog extends into the aperture and toward the strap exit face. The dog is sequentially engageable with the rungs and is resiliently biased to extend between adjacent rungs of the strap. The dog further includes a free end portion comprising positioning means for holding the rung to be held.

Abstract: A self-locking cable tie for forming a plurality of elongate objects such as wires into a bundle. The cable tie comprises an elongate flexible strap positionable about the objects and including a plurality of spaced transversely extending abutments; and a head extending from adjacent one end of the strap having a strap entrance face, a strap exit face, and a transverse aperture extending between the faces for receiving the distal end of the strap. The cable tie further comprises non-pivotal locking means carried by the head and extending into the aperture for securely engaging a preselected one of the abutments and pusher means carried by the head and extending into the aperture.

Abstract: A self-locking cable tie for forming a plurality of wires or the like into a bundle. The tie comprises a stretched elongate flexible strap portion for positioning about the wires. The strap portion is made of a plastic material comprising stretch-oriented molecules. An integral head portion extends from one end of the strap portion and has a strap entrance face, a strap exit face, and a generally transverse aperture extending from the strap entrance face to the strap exit face for receiving the distal end of the strap portion. The aperture has a predetermined strap path therethrough. The tie also includes a locking means non-integral with the head portion and which has a free end portion extending into the strap path and toward the strap exit face. The free end portion and the strap portion each have an engageable component for causing a localized stress concentration in the strap portion.

Abstract: A releasable cable tie for forming a plurality of elongate objects such as wires into a bundle. The tie includes an elongate strap and a locking head which has strap entry and exit faces, a strap-receiving aperture extending between the faces and having a predetermined strap pass path therethrough, and a locking pawl extending into the aperture and toward the strap exit face for holding the strap. The pawl is movable between a release position wherein it is adjacent the strap exit face and disposed outside the strap pass path and an engagement position wherein the pawl is disposed adjacent the strap entry face and securely holds the strap. The cable tie further includes a fulcrum extending toward the strap exit face and a release arm extending from the pawl comprising a generally rigid lever and a generally flexible hinge joining the lever to the pawl.

Abstract: A clamp for holding a pair of elongate objects such as hoses in spaced, generally parallel relationship. The clamp includes a first elongate flexible strap for engaging one of the objects and a second elongate flexible strap for engaging the other object. The clamp also includes a locking head disposed intermediate the straps for receiving the second strap. The locking head includes locking means for holding the second strap after it has been threaded into the locking head and the first strap carries an apertured frame adjacent its free end. After the first strap has been positioned to partially encompass one of the objects, the second strap can be positioned to partially encircle the other object and the free end of the second strap threaded into the frame, between the objects, and into the locking head thereby holding the objects in spaced, generally parallel relationship.

Abstract: An automatic cable tie installation tool for assembling a cable tie about a bundle of wires or the like comprises a tool member, a dispenser member spaced from the tool member adapted to receive a cartridge containing a plurality of cable ties therein, and a conveyer member interconnecting the tool member and dispenser member. The dispenser member includes release means for releasing restraining means on the cartridge to permit egress of the cable ties contained in the cartridge, and transfer means for transmitting the cable ties into the conveyer member where the cable ties are transmitted to the tool member. The tool member comprises receiving means for receiving a cable tie from the dispenser, positioning means for positioning the cable tie in a closed loop about the bundle of wires, tensioning means for tensioning the cable tie about the bundle of wires, and severing means for cutting the tail of the cable tie once it has been tensioned about the bundle of wires.

Abstract: A mount for use with a cable tie having a locking head and a strap extending therefrom for holding at least one elongate object having opposed generally flat first and second sides, such as a flat cable. The mount includes a first member which either has a substantially flat surface for engaging the first side of the object or has means for providing such a surface and further has guide means for guiding the strap about a portion of the first member so that the strap extends beyond the substantially flat surface. The mount also includes a second member which has holding means for captively holding the locking head. The second member either has a substantially flat surface for engagement with the second side of the object or has means for providing such a surface and further has guide means for guiding the cable tie about a portion of the second member so that the cable tie extends beyond the last-mentioned substantially flat surface.

Abstract: An automatic cable tie installation tool for assembling a cable tie about a bundle of wires or the like comprises a tool member, a dispenser member spaced from the tool member adapted to receive a cartridge containing a plurality of cable ties therein, and a conveyer member interconnecting the tool member and dispenser member. The dispenser member includes release means for releasing restraining means on the cartridge to permit egress of the cable ties contained in the cartridge, and transfer means for transmitting the cable ties into the conveyer member where the cable ties are transmitted to the tool member. The tool member comprises receiving means for receiving a cable tie from the dispenser, positioning means for positioning the cable tie in a closed loop about the bundle of wires, tensioning means for tensioning the cable tie about the bundle of wires, and severing means for cutting the tail of the cable tie once it has been tensioned about the bundle of wires.

Abstract: A holder for forming a plurality of strands of wire into a bundle for assembling a cable harness. The holder includes a frame having relatively movable arms .[.of which the ends are in spaced relationship.]. .Iadd.terminating in opposing separate ends.Iaddend.. An elastic band is fastened on the frame to .[.yieldably hold the ends spaced and.]. provide a cradle for the wires .Iadd.and to coact with the ends to releasably retain the strands..Iaddend. .Iadd.